Paolo Bacigalupi pretty much burst onto the science fiction scene last year with his dazzling debut novel “The Windup Girl”, an amazing post big oil collapse set in a world of massive climate change. He’s just released his first YA novel entitled “Ship Breaker” set in a similar world. It follows young Nailer who lives on the beach of what was the Gulf Coast breaking down beached tankers for scrap metal. It’s a horrific life where children are forced into ducts and crawlspaces because of their small stature. Nailer dreams of getting his Lucky Strike and having enough to eat. Nothing more than that. In his world hurricanes called city killers are frequent. As the latest one blows in it brings with it a clipper ship that has the daughter of one of the richest men alive on board. Nailer goes against his better judgement and helps this young woman named Nita. What follows is a pretty intense coming of age story where Nailer does everything he can to bring Nita safely home while being pursued by half men, mercenaries and worst of all, his drug addicted abusive father.
The book pretty clearly illustrates how badly things could turn out for our world if we don’t make some massive changes quickly though it’s never preachy. Bacigalupi is incredibly talented and while this is a book classified as Young Adult I think anyone who has enjoyed his previous work would love it. I am really curious to see what he’s got planned next.
Paolo Bacigalupi pretty much burst onto the science fiction scene last year with his dazzling debut novel “The Windup Girl”, an amazing post big oil collapse set in a world of massive climate change. He’s just released his first YA novel entitled “Ship Breaker” set in a similar world. It follows young Nailer who lives on the beach of what was the Gulf Coast breaking down beached tankers for scrap metal. It’s a horrific life where children are forced into ducts and crawlspaces because of their small stature. Nailer dreams of getting his Lucky Strike and having enough to eat. Nothing more than that. In his world hurricanes called city killers are frequent. As the latest one blows in it brings with it a clipper ship that has the daughter of one of the richest men alive on board. Nailer goes against his better judgement and helps this young woman named Nita. What follows is a pretty intense coming of age story where Nailer does everything he can to bring Nita safely home while being pursued by half men, mercenaries and worst of all, his drug addicted abusive father.
The book pretty clearly illustrates how badly things could turn out for our world if we don’t make some massive changes quickly though it’s never preachy. Bacigalupi is incredibly talented and while this is a book classified as Young Adult I think anyone who has enjoyed his previous work would love it. I am really curious to see what he’s got planned next.
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